and put the bowl of water he carried to his lips. Herder eagerly took a
draught of the refreshing liquid.

"Where are you hurt?" asked Moretz, "that I may wash and bind up your
wounds."

Herder pointed to his side and then to one of his legs.

Aided by Karl, who now came up, Moretz took off Herder's clothes, and
with the linen which he had collected from the slain, having first
washed his wounds, he bound them carefully up.

"We must carry you out of this, for the imperialists returning, will too
likely kill all they find alive," said Moretz.

"You cannot carry me," said Herder, faintly: "you would sink under my
weight."

"I will try," answered Moretz. "Karl will help me."

With a strength of which the old man seemed incapable, he lifted the
bulky form of the farmer on his shoulders, and telling Karl to support
his wounded leg, he hurried towards the hill from which he had lately
descended.

"But you can never carry me up that hill," said Herder, as he gazed at
the height above their heads.

"No," answered Moretz; "but there is a cave near its foot. I can there
conceal you till your enemies have gone away; and I will then get some
friend to assist me in carrying you to my hut. You will be safe in the
cave, at all events, for few know of it; and as soon as the soldiers
have disappeared I will get the assistance of a friend to carry you on."

Old Moretz, as he staggered on, had several times to stop and recover
strength, for the farmer's body was very heavy. At length, however, he
reached the cavern he spoke of. Having deposited his burden, and left
Karl to watch him, he climbed the height, whence he could observe the
proceedings of the imperialists. He had not long to wait. As he had
seen them advancing like a rushing torrent, now they returned like the
ebb of the ocean. As he had feared, they appeared to be slaughtering
those they found still stretched alive on the ground. On they went,
till there were none to kill, and then, the trumpet collecting them in
more compact order, they marched onwards in the direction whence they
had come. Moretz, having found a neighbour in whom he had confidence,
he returned to the cavern, and together they carried Herder up to his
cottage.

"I have but poor fare to offer you, Herr Herder," he said, "but such as
it is I freely present it to you."

"What makes you thus take care of me?" said Herder, scarcely noticing
the remark. "I never did you any good. I have